Crossroads Asia

France and Italy’s Central Asia Strategy: Securing Energy and Shaping Security

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Crossroads Asia | Economy | Central Asia

France and Italy’s Central Asia Strategy: Securing Energy and Shaping Security

Central Asia’s evolving geopolitical role is not just about balancing external actors; it is about leveraging these partnerships to pursue their own national and elite interests. 

France and Italy’s Central Asia Strategy: Securing Energy and Shaping Security
Credit: Facebook / Aqorda

Europe’s interest in Central Asia has increased sharply following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While this attention is mainly driven by Europe’s desire to diversify away from Russian fossil fuels, there are key differences in the ways in which individual European countries pursue their respective energy interests. Besides energy, geopolitical and security considerations increasingly play a role in Europe’s engagement with Central Asia.

France and Italy are particularly active in the region with their energy and defense industries. Their main focus is Kazakhstan, followed by Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

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